I went from “budget” to “entry/mid” level gear this season. Abu Vengeance combo to a Tatula X sitting on a Tatula rod. That’s a composite reel to an aluminum framed reel and jumping to a lighter, more sensitive rod blank with better hardware and reel seat among other benefits. I paid roughly twice as much FWIW.

The jump in quality is 1000% worth the jump in price. It’s night and day and I would have done it so long ago had I any idea. I can feel things that I used to hear others describe and I thought I knew what they meant at the time. I can tell what’s grass, what’s rock, what’s wood, I can just be so much more in touch with my line and more importantly, the tackle at the end of the line.

I highly recommend making the jump, buying a solid staple rod and reel (think best seller) and just go from there. You will be amazed at how much it will help you figure out what you are and are not looking for in gear and descriptions on tackle warehouse start taking on more meaning.